These Apple Hemp Muffins are hot! These whole-grain, vegan muffins by Dreena Burton are easy to make, delicious, tender, and also nut-free and oil-free.
These Apple Hemp Muffins are hot.
Recipe, I mean. Muffins too, but you know, let ’em cool at least a little before taking a bite.
Who would imagine that hemp muffins could be so popular? Readers have loved this recipe for years now, so much that I revised it for Plant-Powered Families.
The original version appeared in Vive le Vegan back in 2004. Yep, I’ve been using hemp seeds in my recipes for many years, before it was a trendy superfood.
When I started using hemp seeds and talking about them in my recipes, I got that “ohhhh, you are that kind of vegan!” sort of reaction.
People didn’t know that hemp seeds were a highly nutritious food – a ‘superfood’ if you will.
No, instead they thought they’d get high from my brownies. Of course they wouldn’t! Because I saved it all for muffins. #kidding #relax!
Jokes aside, it took a few years for the worth of hemp – high in protein, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants – to be recognized in the world of healthy eating. Thank goodness it has, because it has made these virtuous bitty seeds widely available (and accepted)!
For Plant-Powered Families, I freshened up the recipe and made them oil-free. Even without the oil, these muffins are still beautifully moist and tender. To ensure they don’t stick to the muffin liners, try using these parchment muffin liners. They do the trick!
I make these muffins often for school lunches, because they are substantial, healthy, and of course nut-free.
Apple Hemp Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups whole-grain spelt flour
- 1 cup oat flour
- 2/3 – 3/4 cup hemp seeds
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 1/2 – 1 3/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground cardamom can substitute freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 cup unsweetened organic applesauce
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
- 3/4 cup plain or vanilla non-dairy milk
- 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup raisins or chopped raw banana spears use kitchen shears or knife to cut in small pieces about size of raisins
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients, sifting in the baking powder and baking soda. Stir through until well combined. In another bowl, combine applesauce, maple syrup, non-dairy milk, and vanilla, and mix together. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture, and gently fold and mix through, until just combined (do not overmix). Spoon the mixture into a muffin pan lined with cupcake liners (this will fill 12 muffins quite full). Bake for 21-23 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. (See notes above about cooling to help remove from liner.) Makes 12 large muffins.
Have you tried these Vegan Apple Hemp Muffins? What is your favorite way to eat hemp seeds?
Kat says
These look so delicious and I’ve been looking for other ways to use my hemp seeds but I don’t need this to be wheat free…..can I use regular all purpose flour in the same quantity? Thanks!
Dreena says
If you use AP flour, Kat, you’ll want to use bit less, b/c it is denser/more absorbent. I’d say try 2 cups, and if you need a little more after combining the ingredients you can sprinkle in another tbsp or so. Also, you can use w/w pastry flour – much healthier than AP flour. And, I’d prob use about the same, 2 cups of w/w pastry. Hope that helps!
Brandie says
Just one.more thing. Following your parchment paper cooking, I found parchment paper muffin liners. These muffins pop right out. No left over muffin chucks on the liner 🙂
Brandie says
WOW!!! Such yummy muffins! I think it’s my dd’s favorite ones (yet) thank you for posting the recipe!!
Amber says
I just made these muffins, and they are FANTASTIC!!! Thank you for the recipe. I have one question. It says on my hemp seed bag to try toasting the hemp seeds but not above 325 degrees to preserve the EFAs. I’m wondering if cooking these muffins at 350 degrees impairs the EFAs. Any thoughts Dreena?
Leslie Paquette says
Hi Dreena, I’ve made two batches of these muffins since you posted them. They are delicious!!! I subbed 1 diced apple for the raisins so my husband wold eat them and also doubled the amount of cardamom. Definitely our new favorite snack. I just received LTEV in the mail and made the falafel tonight. My husband and I both enjoyed it! I can’t wait to make more of the recipes. Thank you, Leslie
Dreena says
Yay! Marvelous, Leslie! I love adding a little diced apple too – adds more moisture and just beatiful texture/flavor. So pleased you are trying recipes from LTEV too – thanks, hope you enjoy many more. 😀